Closed slotted conduit



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. MVAN DBPOELE. GLOSED SLOTTED CONDUIT.

No. 404,325. Patented May Z8, 1889.A

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' C. J. VAN DEPOELE.

CLOSED SLOTTED'CONDUIT.

Patented May 28, 1889.

@1Mo/mam (No Model.) i s sheets-sheet 3. C. J. VAN DEPOELE. CLOSEDSLOTTED GONDUIT.

No. 404,325. Patented May 28, 1889.

WMZ/wao uw, Syvum/V60@ f I Cita/Plas a/epoele l I milo/LM Mg UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

CLOSED SLOTTED CONDUIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,325, dated May 28,1889.

Application tiled March 21, 1889. Serial No. 304,195. (N o model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. VAN DE- POELE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and St-ate ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inClosed Slotted Conduits, (Case D,) of which the following is adescription, reference being had to the ac-l companying drawings, and tothe letters and [o figures of reference marked thereon.

The present invention relates to improvements in conduits for electricrailways of the type in which the supply conductor or conductors arecontained within a small sub-suri 5 face chamber communicating` with thesurface by a continuous opening or slot, which slot is kept normallyclosed by flexible strips of packing, which, being interposed betweenthe conductor-sustaining parts and the exterior zo casing of theconduit, serves the double purpose of excluding dirt, water, &c., andinsulating the conductor-supporting parts from the exterior casing,which may be made of various materials, but is usually of metal.

The traveling contact is made with the con- 3o so that the leastpossible separation is effected thereby. The elasticity of A,the packingwill cause it to pr'ess tightly against the sides of the blade and bealmost closed at its front and rear ends. For furtherprotection,however,

3591 supply compressed air to the conductor-` containing` chamber, theescape of which about the traveling contact will prevent the entrance offoreign matter, and it will be obvious that the supply of air will alsoresult in 4o blowing out of the conduit any accumulations of water thatmay have entered through leaky or defective portions thereof. Thecompressed air, however, need only be supplied in wet or very dampweather, since when all the parts are dry the structure andarrangementof the several portions of which the conduit is composed will afford allnecessary protection and insulation to the conductors.

The principles of the invention are fully 5o set forth in'two priorapplications, led J anuary 5, 1889, and serially numbered, respectively,295,506 and 295,507; but this application refers more particularly tocertain specific features shown in said prior applications, but notspecifically claimed therein, and which will be hereinafter fullydescribed, and referred to in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section of aconduit embodying my invention, certain of the parts being shown infull. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of the conduit shown inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation showing a somewhatdifferently constructed conduit. Figs. -t and 5 are transverse sectionalelevations of slightly differing forms of construction. Figs. 6, 7, and8 are also transverse sectional elevations of my improved conduit,showing slightly different means for closing the slot. Fig. 9 is aperspective of another form of slotrclosing material, and Fig. 9a isadetail thereof. Fig. l0 is a diagrammatic View of an organization ofparts for supplying compressed air to the conduit.

As indicated in the drawings, A represents the exterior casing of thelconduit, which is usually composed of continuously-connected metallicsections, substantially as shown, described, and claimed in anapplication filed by me February 2, 1889, Serial .No 298,432.

The sections of casing A are provided'gat intervals withsupportingchairs B, upon which and upon the edges of the casing areplaced surface or capping plates C C. The capping-plates are removablysecured in position and separated to form a continuous slot, D. Vithinthe casing A is placed an insulating-support, E, for the conductor orconductors. The support E is usually in the form of a solid filling ofwood soaked or coatedv with a preservative water-proof compound, and maybe formed, as seen in Figs. l, 2, 3, at, 5, and 7, of a piece or piecesof timber formed to entirely fill the casin g A, and provided with acentral groove or grooves, a, for the reception of the conductor orconductors.

As indicated in Figs; l, 2, and 4, the filling A isprovided'with acentral chamber constructed with a groove on each side for the receptionof the positive and negative conductors. The conductors land 2 areshownIOO as slitted cylindric tubes, the slits being continuous andpreferably arranged facing each other.

In Fig. 4 a pair of flat metallic bars, 3 4, are shown; but it will beunderstood that any desired form of conductor may be employed. In 5 andG single cylindric conductors are indicated, and in Fig. 7 a single fiatconductor, 3, is seen.

As described in the said prior application, my improved conduitcomprises an exterior casing, an insulating filling or support for theconductor, and means t'or closing the slit above theconductor-containing groove or chamber with a fiexible insulatingmaterial, supplying the necessary elasticity and'at the same timerendering it highly desirable that some means for lubrication beprovided. I iind that a combination of leather and rubber possesses manyadvantages for this purpose, the rubber supplying the necessaryelasticity, while the leather will retain and be benefited by theapplication thereto of a lubricantfor example, a non-dryingoil andplumbago. Any material, however, possessing` the properties of thoseabove described may be substituted therefor, and will answer the samepurpose.

In practice a strip of leather, F, is provided along` its rear edge witha strip or cushion of rubber, l, the rubber being` attached to theleather by a waterproof cement, or the leather and the rubber may beseparately applied; but in either event the rubber is separated orprotected from the leather by water-proof material in order to preventthe lubricating material upon the face of the leather strip from soakinginto the rubber and destroying it. As indicated, the strip of leather iswider than the rubber and is placed along the top of the filling A.NVhen the conductor containing groove is wide, supporting-strips (t4, ofhard insulating material or even of metal, may be used to sustain theleather strips l". A similar strip F, also provided with a rubberpacking, 1l, is placed upon each side of the upper portion of thefilling A, so that the edges turn upward into a vertical position andlie close against each other. The capping plates C C are then placed inposition, resting directly upon that portion of the leather strip lyingupon the lilling A. The vertical edges of the strips extend into anddesirably occupy the entire space of the slot D between the cappingplates, forming a separable water-proof pack ing for said slot, althoughit is not essential that they till the slot D.

In Fig. 3 the casing A is in the form of a slitted tube instead of anopen trough, as A, and instead of iillin g the tube A with a core ofwood the conductors l 2 are sustained by bridges II of insulatingmaterial, which may be slipped into each tube before the same is placedin position. Upon the upper edges of the tube A are placed strips 7b It,which fill the space between the edges of the tube A and extend almosteven with the tops of the chairs B, upon which the capping-plates aresupported. The strips h 71. are separated to form a continuous slot forthe passage of the traveling contact device, and upon their up persurfaces are placed the leather strips F, provided, as before described,with the upturned edges backed by rubber strips or cushions G andextending into and closing the slot D between the cappingsplates. Themetallic casing A', when used with the bridges or separate supports lIfor the conductors, should be lined with insulating material Il, whichmay be in the form of a tube of prepared pa per or fiber or othermaterial slipped into the tubes A before the insertion of the eonductor-supporting bridges, or it may consist of a coating of durableinsulating paint or cement, as preferred. Within this form an open spacemay exist below the conductors, into which water or other matterentering the conduit by an unter-seen circumstance, will be received,andthe conduit is provided at iutervals with airsupply inlet-pipes, bywhich a pressure of air is maintained therein for the purpose ofpreventing' the entrance of foreign matter, especially water; but whichwill also serve in case of necessity to blow out any accumulations andprevent the shortcircuiting of the conductors or other interference withtheir proper insulation.

The presence of an air-pressure in the conduit above that ot' theatmosphere would result in the forcible ejection of water therefrom; butto facilitate such action I may place at suitable depressions along theline of the conduit exit-pipes B2, con'mmnicating with a drain-pipe, B,or suitable catch-basins,a1 f1d provided with stop-cocks B4, which areopened when it is desirable to clear water out of the conduit, andsubsequently closed to prevent the escape of air. The escape-pipes B2may also be carried upward to the surface of the roadway instead ot' toa drain, li, and provided with stop-coeks protected bya suitablemetallic box, B5.

Instead of using the solid rubber cushions G a still greater degree ol'flexibility may be attained by using one or more tubular elasticcushions, G', as indicated in Figs. (i amt.

7. The tubes G are desir-ably rubber pipes or hose, which are located inrear ofthe leather facing F, and being separately counected with thepipes supplying compressed air to the conduit or with the interior ofthe conduit itself, are kept distended thereby. This will enable me toemploy a comparatively thin tube, the elasticityof which would, unaided,be sufficient to hohl the facing-strilis together with su lticient forceto properly close the slot, but which, when kept filled with compressedair, would serve the purpose admirably, and in addition would comprisegreater tlexiliility than the solid .cushions G. This would be anadvantage where a comparatively thick contact-plow were used, as itwould permit wider separation of the slotlOO IOS

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closing packing without injury. The tubular cushions G might bethemselves covered with canvas or similar material or with leather andthe strips F be dispensed with.

As indicated in Fig. 9, the slot-closing strips F F3 may be heldtogether by a single tubular cushion, G2-that is, a cushion be placedbehind only one of said strips. One of the cushions G may serve thispurpose; but I may also use the cushion G2, which consists of acontinuous slanting spiral spring, g2, desirably of non-corrosiveresilient metal inclosed within a leather or canvas tube, g3.

rlhe spring g2, being placed slantine, may bey compressed or flattenedby the passing plow, and will possess sufficient power to distend itscovering and keep the slot tightly closed. NVith this arrangement norubber is used, and the slot may be freely lubricated without injury.

In Fig. 8 is seen a form of pneumatic packing, which comprises leatherstrips F doubled and having their edges F2 turned downward, so that theair-pressure within the conduit will always keep the said edges F2tightly pressed together.

As shown in- Fig. (i, the wooden filling by which the conductor issupported may, if desired, be formed in a number of pieces fitted intothe casing to constitute the conductorsustaining chamber. As thereindicated, the conductor l is placed in a groove formed in a strip, a.rlheleatherstrips F are then placed about the upper edges of theconductor. Strips a2 a2 are then placed within the easing A, beingformed to rest upon the lower por` tions of the strips F, and press themtightly upon the exterior edges of the conductor.

Suitable grooves, ci, are formed in the strips a2, within which areplaced the tubular cushions G, provided with air-supply connections g.Vhen in position, the cushions G bear againstthc upperouter surface ofthe leather strips F, pressing themI 'tightly together. It will beapparent that vthe solid cushions G may be substituted for the tubes Sr.The capping-plates C C rest upon the upper-surfaces ot' the tubes orcushions in the grooves d3. The construction indicated in Fig. '7 re-`sembles that in Fig. 5, except that tubular cushions G', formed withair-inlets g', are substituted for the solid cushions G, and when thisform is used it is desirable to undercut the in ner-edges of thecapping-plates C C, to afford greater protection to the said cushions.

The contact devices employed to collect current from the conductors maybe in the form of rubbing blocks or brushes, and when blocks areemployed they may be cylindric pieces of carbon, .I J ,secured betweenmetallic blocks J2. \Vhatever the nature of the contact devicesthemselves, they are secured to the lower edge of a` thin metallicplate, I,- which is insulated and moves between the slot-closingpacking. For protection to the plate I, a plow or armor, fr', is securedabout the portion thereof exterior to the slot and desirably so arrangedas to move in close proximity to the capping-plates, so as to remove anydirt or other obstruction therefrom. rlhe armor is properly insulatedfrom the conduct-ing plate or blade I, and serves to receive themechanical connections extending to the vehicle by which thecontact-plow as a whole is moved along the conduit. Y

IVhere two conductors are used, as indicated in Figs. l, 2, 3, and 4, aconvenient arrangement ef contact devices is as indicated in Fig. l,where two separate plows are shown, 011e somewhatjn advance of theother. As indicated in said Fig. l, the contact devices .I J extendlaterally from the lower edges of the plows, one set entering and movingupon the interior of each of the conductors.

In the diagram, Fig. l0, a railway system is indicated, together with asystem of supplying compressed air to the conduit. Instead of acontinuous system of supply-pipes, it will be found convenient in manyinstances to supply the air from separate stations each provided withair -compressing apparatus,

which may consist of an automatic motor .with sufficient facility toprevent the entrance of water under ordinary circumstances.

Various methods of compressing air and supplying the same to the conduitmight be used, and, if desired, the motor or motors might be included ina separate circuit, (indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 10,) and thusentirelyunder control from the generating-station. This arrangementwould be specially advantageous in cases where through accident orneglect the conduit had become filled with water during the night orwhen not in use. The presence of water would render the conduitinoperative; but with the air-compressing apparatus in a separatecircuit the water could be ejected and the conduit thoroughly dried bythe circulation of air therethrough, by which means a conduit otherwiseuseless could be put in operative condition in the shortest possibletime.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A conduit for electric conductors, comprising a slotted exteriorcasing, a conductor or conductors and supports therefor within -thecasing, flexible or yielding strips between the conductor-supports andthe casing, and an elastic cushion or cushions between the IOO IIO

flexible strips and the casing for holding the strips normally in closecontact to close the slot.

2. A conduit for electric conductors, comprising a slotted exteriorcasing, a conductor or conductors, and an insulating support or supportstherefor within the casing, strips of flexible insulating materialbetween the conductor-supports and the casing, and elastic cushionsbetween the casing and the strips acting to hold said strips normally inclose contact.

3. A conduit for electric conductors, comprising a slotted exteriorcasing, a conductor or conductors and supports therefor within thecasing, flexible strips between the conductor-supports and the casing,an elastic cushion or cushions between the flexible strips and thecasing for holding the strips normally in close contact to close theslot, and means for supplying compressed air to the interior of' theconduit to prevent the entrance of water.

et. A conduit for electric cond-uctors, comprising a slotted exteriorcasing, a conductor or conductors, and Aan insulating support orsupports therefor within the casing, strips of flexible insulatingmaterial between the conductor-supports and the casing, and elasticcushions between the edges of the slot of the casing and the strips forholding said strips normallyin close contact and closing the slot.

5. A conduit for electric conductors, comprising a slotted exteriorcasing, a conductor or conductors and supports therefor within thecasing, flexible or yielding strips of lubricated material between theconductor-supports and the casing, and an elastic cushion or cushionsfor holding the edges of the lul bricated strips normally in closecontact.

G. A conduit for electric conductors, comprising a slotted exteriorcasing, a conductor or conductors, and insulating-supports thereforwithin the casing, continuous strips of flexible material arranged alongthe upper part of the interior of the casing and having their upperinner surfaces in close Contact and supplied with lubricating material,continuous supports for the lubricated strips, and elastic cushionsacting against the backs of said strips for holding them normally inclose contact to close the slot of the casing.

7. A conduit for electric conductors, comprising a slotted exterioreasing, a grooved insulating-filling for said casing, a conductor orcond uetors in the groove or grooves, flexible or yieldinginsulating-strips interposed between the filling and extending up intothe slot of the casingand elastic cushions against the backs of thestrips in the slot and acting to hold them normally in close contact.

S. A conduit for electric conductors, comprising a slotted exteriorcasing, a conductor or conductors and supports therefor within thecasing, flexible or yielding insulatingstrips between theconductor-support and the casing, a hollow elastic cushion or cushionsbetween the upper edges of the strips and the casing, and means fordistending the cushion or cushions for holding said strips normally inclose contact to close the slot.

9. A conduit for electric conductors, comprising a slotted exteriorcasing, a conductor or conductors and supports therefor within thecasing, flexible or yielding insulatingstrips between theconductorsupport and the casing, hollow elastic cushions interposedbctween the upper edges of the strips and the casing for normallyholding` the said strips in close contact to close the slot, and meansfor supplying compressed air to the interior of the hollow cushions forincreasing their pressure upon the slot-closing strips, as desired.

10. A conduit for electric conductors, comprising a slotted exteriorcasing, flexible slotclosing strips normally in contact to close theconduit, contact devices engaging a conductor or conductors within theconduit, a thin blade or plate carrying contact devices at its loweredge and extending upwardly through the flexible slot-closingmaterialand formed with upwardly-sloping extremities, whereby the slot is openedin an upward direction, but remains tightly closed about the sides ofthe plate.

ll. The combination, with a closed slotted conduit, of an air compressoror compressors, electric motors for actuating the same, a circuit forsupplying current to the motors independent of the conduit, and mains orpipes connecting the compressors and the conduit for supplyingcompressed air thereto.

l2. The combination, with a closed slotted conduit, of means forsupplying compressed air thereto, comprising one or moreair-compressors, and an inlet pipe or pipes connecting the conduit andcompressors, and valved outlets for facilitating the egress of water,when desired, and preventing the escape of air.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my rio J. W. GIBBONEY, GUsrrAvI-IELLEBUCK.

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